"Christmas Flintstone" (alternatively titled "How the Flintstones Saved Christmas" on the VHS releases) is the Christmas episode of the Hanna-Barbera animated series The Flintstones, and as such, it is the first Christmas production starring the Flintstones characters. It originally aired on ABC on Christmas Day of 1964, as the fifteenth episode of the show's fifth season.
A storyline similar to the episode's plot was used thirteen years later for the 1977 prime-time special A Flintstone Christmas.
Synopsis[]
The episode opens with Fred and Barney walking around downtown Bedrock at Christmas time, with Fred explaining that he needs extra money to buy presents for his family and friends. Fred then sees a sign advertising an opening for a part-time job at Macyrock's department store, so he applies for the job, though he does not yet know what the job is. When he tells it to Wilma at dinner that evening, she says that she is not sure she likes the idea of him working two jobs, but Fred explains this second job will only be for a week.
Mr. Macyrock assigns Fred to portray Santa.
The next afternoon, after quitting time at the quarry, Fred heads off to Macyrock's and is assigned to provide work in the gift-wrapping department. Later, while on stockroom duty, Fred takes a look around the toy department and starts goofing off. Mr. Macyrock catches Fred goofing off and orders him to get the stock down to the basement as ordered. Fred tries taking the freight elevator only to find out that it is out of order, and Mr. Macyrock fires him. Just then, Mr. Macyrock's assistant tells him that the man they hired to play Santa Claus is sick, and they have not been able to get anyone else. Mr. Macyrock then gets the idea to have Fred be the store's Santa Claus.
Fred does a terrific job portraying Santa Claus for the children at the store and has a great time doing so. When he arrives home that evening, Fred explains to Wilma, and later to Barney and Betty about how he got the job as Santa. As the week goes on, Fred does such a great job portraying Santa at the store that he even makes a live television appearance on Christmas Eve. Right after closing time, Fred is suddenly visited by two elves named Blinky and Twinky. He initially thinks they are just two kids in costumes until they bring him into Santa's flying sleigh and take off into the air.
Fred delivering Santa's presents.
At the North Pole, Fred is brought to see the real Santa Claus, who has a cold and can't go on his annual Christmas Eve flight. Therefore, Santa gives Fred the assignment of filling in for him. Fred takes on this task and, with Blinky and Twinky guiding the sleigh, manages to deliver Santa's presents to all the houses in the world, all the while wishing Merry Christmas everywhere.
The Flintstones and the Rubbles gather to wish a Merry Christmas to the viewers.
After the job is finished, Blinky and Twinky drop Fred off near his house, but it is only after they have left that Fred realizes he unfortunately left his presents for his family and friends in the sleigh. When Fred arrives home, however, he sees his family and friends with the presents he bought for them. Wilma, Barney, and Betty say to Fred that he was just here in his Santa outfit, giving out their presents, and are glad to see that he had gotten over his cold. Fred looks outside and sees the real Santa Claus, still with a cold, flying in the sleigh in the sky above after having delivered Fred's presents to them. After opening their presents, the Flintstones and the Rubbles wish Merry Christmas to everyone.
Songs[]
The episodes features the following songs, both sung by Fred:
Both songs were included on the 1996 soundtrack album The Flintstones: Modern Stone Age Melodies; however, the reprise of "Christmas is My Fav'rite Time of Year" does not appear on that album.
Availability[]
The episode was released on VHS, under the title How the Flintstones Saved Christmas, for the first time as part of the Hanna-Barbera Super Stars video series in 1989. Two years later, it was included on Image Entertainment's Hanna-Barbera Christmas Laserdisc, which also featured "A Jetson Christmas Carol" and Yogi Bear's All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper. The original VHS was later reissued by Turner Home Entertainment in 1995. Turner released the episode again in 1996, this time on the Christmas in Bedrock VHS, which also included A Flintstone Family Christmas.
The episode made its DVD debut on The Flintstones: The Complete Fifth Season DVD set, released by Warner Home Video in 2006. It was also included as a bonus feature on the 2007 DVD release of A Flintstones' Christmas Carol. The episode made its high-definition debut on The Flintstones: The Complete Series Blu-ray set, released on October 27, 2020.
1989
1991
1995?
September 24, 1996
Cast[]
| Voice actor/actress | Character(s) |
|---|---|
| Alan Reed | Fred Flintstone |
| Jean Vander Pyl | Wilma Flintstone Pebbles Flintstone |
| Mel Blanc | Barney Rubble Dino Mr. Macyrock |
| Gerry Johnson | Betty Rubble |
| Hal Smith | Santa Claus |
| Don Messick | Bamm-Bamm Rubble Hoppy TV announcer Elf #2 |
| Dick Beals | Kids Elf #1 |
See also[]
External links[]
- The Flintstones Wiki: Christmas Flintstone
- "Christmas Flintstone" at the Big Cartoon DataBase
- "Christmas Flintstone" at the Internet Movie Database